[BUILD LOG] - First DIY Build - Numpad Mod

[Bunford]

I realise there's a few people taking this mod approach at the minute and a few new logs started up, which is a good thing I think!

Anyway, here's my log. The intention of this log is to show to people that beginner's can make mod controllers. As a background, I have no experience of modding nor of any electronic work. So, if that sounds like you, follow this log if you wanna make your own mod controller. This one will be a 4 x 4 grid in the Midifighter shape for 8 cue points per decks, hopefully with LEDs.

Here's the numpad that I'm using.

This is my first post, and I'm needing help already!

I'm wondering how I will be wiring the buttons to the brain and how I can calculate what connects to where. There are 4 pics attached. They are front view and rear view of brain, the keypad with the underneath plastic layout part (which was folded up in half and had a ribbon connector that slot into the connector socket) and then one of the plastic part opened out.

[MiL0]

looks like there are 12 contacts just before the ZIF slot - you probably need to solder 12 wires to each of those points. You then need to find earth. Once that's done you can daisychain 12 buttons to each other (daisychain the earth) and then solder the wires to each of the 12 buttons.

weird that there is 12 contacts - hopefully I can't see a few other contacts... if there's only 12 then it's possible that the numpad uses some sort of matrix/mux... which would be a pain for a beginners project.

edit: oh dear - judging by the plastic contact sheets, it doesn't appear that all 12 contacts are used on the ZIF socket anyway. Looks like 3 or 4 are unused which might mean that they're in a matrix circuit... bit beyond my abilities... perhaps someone else can help?

[Bunford]

The black bit slide out so the ribbon can slide into the ZIF slot, then pushing the black bit back in lock them in place. Would this work with wires too, or would they definitely need to be soldered?

There is also a green LED on there, assumingly for the num lock. I'm hoping to put the num lock on the side of the case with the LED and USB socket, then have the 4x4 grid on top. Does that look possible with this board?

[MiL0]

The black bit slide out so the ribbon can slide into the ZIF slot, then pushing the black bit back in lock them in place. Would this work with wires too, or would they definitely need to be soldered?

There is also a green LED on there, assumingly for the num lock. I'm hoping to put the num lock on the side of the case with the LED and USB socket, then have the 4x4 grid on top. Does that look possible with this board?

you sound a bit like me 6 months ago! I spent ages trying to work out a way to make a DIY controller without doing any soldering (or as little as possible). It really isn't possible to make a controller without doing some soldering, I've come to find out!

The good news is that it's easy... just takes a bit of practice

So no, I seriously doubt you can just stuff some wires into the ZIF socket and hope that they stay in place. You need to solder wires directly to the solder points just before the ZIF socket, I'd imagine.

[Buffalo Ill]

This is gonna be an interesting thread. Can you guys give a deescription for new terms, though?

I have no idea what a ZIF socket is...

[MiL0]

it's not really a ZIF socket actually - I forget what they're called so it was the closest thing I could think to describe that socket heh...

ZIF socket = Zero Insertion Force socket

[Bunford]

The ZIF socket is the largest plastic bit on the board. The one where you usually get ribbons (thin plastic usually) that slide into them and lock in rather than loads of wires (or so I understand it).

MiL0 - on the second pic, you can see the ZIF socket has some soldering behind it on each of the 12 strips. Is this where I should be soldering the wires? Is there a way to completely remove the ZIF socket.

[Bunford]

judging by the plastic contact sheets, it doesn't appear that all 12 contacts are used on the ZIF socket anyway. Looks like 3 or 4 are unused which might mean that they're in a matrix circuit... bit beyond my abilities... perhaps someone else can help?

Anyone able to help with this at all?

Typical that I pick myself up a numpad for an absolute beginner mod, and it ends up being a complex numpad!

[MiL0]

what you could do is precisely copy the circuit on the plastic contact sheets. That way, if there is some sort of matrix being used, it'll still work properly.

the contact sheet circuit is quite easy to see - should be relatively simple to emulate with wires and arcade buttons. The bonus should be that you won't need to do as much soldering

[VirtualLogic]

Check this link out . http://www.instructables.com/id/Hacking-a-USB-Keyboard/

*edit* fixed the link